See also

Dutch

Noun

Hooliganism refers to unruly and destructive
behaviour. Such
behaviour is commonly associated with sports fans, particularly
supporters of professional
football and university sports. In some
countries, the hooligan elements of a group of supporters are known
as Category C. The term can also apply to general rowdy behaviour
and vandalism, often under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Etymology

The term has been used since at least the 1890s,
to describe the behaviour of street gangs.
The first use of the term is unknown, but it appeared in an 1898
Londonpolice report. One theory
is that the word came from the name of an Irish
hoodlum from Southwark, London
named Patrick Hoolihan. There has also been reference made to a
19th century family by that name who lived in rural Ireland, known
for their wild lifestyle, resulting in anyone who lived similarly
as being referred to as a hooligan. Another theory is that it came
from a street gang in Islington named
Hooley. Yet another theory is that the term is based on an Irish
word, Hooley, which means a wild, spirited party..

Russia and Argentina

In the Soviet
Union, hooliganism (хулиганство) was made a criminal offence
under the penal codes of the Soviet republics. Article 213 of the
penal code defined hooliganism as "any deliberate behaviour which
violates public order and expresses explicit disrespect towards the
society." This law was often used by Soviet authorities against
political dissidents. Hooliganism is still covered under the
criminal
and administrative codes of Russia, and is applicable to
persons at least 16 years old. Hooliganism is graded into Malicious
hooliganism (злостное хулиганство), hooliganism (хулиганство), and
Petty hooliganism (мелкое хулиганство). Petty hooliganism is
"subject to administrative proceedings" (roughly equivalent to
application of the civil
law) and classified as roughly equivalent to an infraction. It is mostly
applied to minor street disorders and fighting by urban youth.
Malicious hooliganism is defined as being committed "with
extraordinary cynicism, with resistance to law enforcement, with
usage of arms or attempt thereof, or committed by a recidivist."

In Argentina, most
sports-related hooliganism is associated with football and barras bravas
groups. However at times it is also seen at other sports, such as
rugby
and basketball.
During the period of military rule in the 1970s and early 1980s,
hooligans were used by the government to attack pro-democracy
protesters overseas. Since then they have been occasionally used by
football club owners to attack business or political
opponents..